Well, it seems as if this mess is snowballing.
The following are just my opinions, and I'm sure they will upset people on both sides, but it is not like I can personally do anything about them anyway.
My earlier attempts at distancing myself from taking sides, while upholding the principle of sovereignty, have led me to the conclusion that I can no longer refrain from doing so. The evidence indicates to me, very clearly, that the aggrieved party is that of the Ukraine, and the aggressor is that of the Russian Federation. How? Through the operation and supply of their clients within the borders of the Ukraine now, the destabilization and introduction of clients into the Crimean peninsula earlier, and the flagrant disregard for international law and censure over her annexation of the same. Even the death of innocents, from many nations, did nothing to deter her.
Is this something new? No, look at Georgia, another casualty in allowing the playground bully to run amok.
The world cannot stand by and allow such a flagrant violation of international law to take place. The bully whines and states he's quite a bad ass, he is, but so are many others. While the others sit back, and do next to nothing, they hope that the bully thinks, and adjusts his behavior so that a confrontation might be avoided. The bully continues on, as this has worked for him many times before, even at home where he has run roughshod over previously free institutions, like the media, without much opposition. Many good people there who suffer from the bully, too.
People will do as they do, are free to do so, but consequences always exist.
What to do? I don't know, but all kinds of things come to mind.
- More sanctions, yes.
- Co-ordinate with Europe over undersea NG delivery system, as we can't have the people hostage to gas supplies; costs must be underwritten by governments to make sure population not burdened. Yes.
- Strengthen NATO, yes. Re-institute missile defense of NATO perimeter (they already violated intermediate missile treaty anyway.) Yes.
- Fast track non NATO members that share a border with an unruly neighbor, yes.
- Require sovereignty be restored to the Ukraine, yes.
- Go to war over principle, if necessary, yes.
Solutions: Just get along, do business in a mutually respective manner, and develop the infrastructure of your own nation (goes for everyone.)
I have many Russian friends, and worry for them over this new expansionist doctrine too. My disagreement is with the actions of the leadership there, just as I often have them with the leadership here; I hope they understand this.
I'm not in uniform now, but would put one back on if needed, just as I offered to on behalf of the Russian people when that atrocity in Beslan occurred.
My best to all, let's fix this.